Speakers to give perspective on life in resort

Three speakers with Queenstown connections will join the
programme for TEDxQueenstown: Sense of Place, being held in
the resort next month.

Broadcaster Andrew Patterson, musician Mathias Lefebvre,
known as ''Mathias Piano Man'', and University of Canterbury
senior research fellow John Reid have been announced as the
latest speakers to put their perspectives on sense of place.

Mr Patterson, a RadioLive correspondent, lived in the resort
during the 1990s and believes supporting and growing
entrepreneurship and investment in youth builds their
connection with their communities and is vital for the future
of New Zealand.

Mr Lefebvre is often seen on the shores of Lake Wakatipu
playing an old piano and featured in an award-winning image
in National Geographic.

He will tell of his journey from being a Belgian masters
graduate in humanitarian management to professional busker in
the resort.

Mr Reid is a senior research fellow at the University of
Canterbury's Ngai Tahu Research Centre, whose work focuses on
indigenous ways of knowing and exploring the familial
relationship with the land and how to reconnect to live in
synchronicity with nature, rather than being a part of the
landscape.

TedX is a programme of local, self-organised events, held for
the first time in the resort last year.

Ted is a non-profit organisation devoted to ''ideas worth
spreading'', which began as a four-day conference in
California almost 30 years ago.

It has grown to support world-changing ideas with multiple
initiatives.

Two annual Ted Conferences invite world-leading ''thinkers
and doers'' to speak for 18 minutes on a diverse range of
subjects.

Queenstown event co-curator Cesar Piotto said the trio would
bring valuable local connections to ideas around sense of
place in Queenstown.